Tigers prepare for championship against Pickens

A host of Tiger defenders corral a running back from Clear Creek.

The season all comes down to one game. Coach Benjy Edwards' Dawson County middle school football team will travel to Pickens County High School Thursday to play for the North Georgia Mountain League Championship against the middle school program from Pickens County.

The matchup will be a revenge game for the Tigers. Dawson County suffered its only loss of the season on opening day to the Dragons, 20-6. Since then Dawson County has won three straight games.

Pickens comes into the game with a perfect 4-0 record after Thursday's semi-final win over Fannin County, 38-8.

"This should be a great game," Edwards said. "We are looking for a big crowd from Dawsonville. Come support our boys."

Kick off will be at 5 p.m.

The Tigers qualified for the championship game with a win over Clear Creek Middle School last week. The Sept. 26 game was played at Riverview Middle School.

Dawson started the game with a trick play. Edwards called receiver Ryan Glass to hurry and get off the field. When the ball was snapped Glass streaked down the sideline and hauled in a pass from quarterback Cullen Reed for a 52-yard gain.

Two plays later running back Luke Smith found the end zone from 21-yards out. A bobbled snap forced an errant throw on the extra point. But Dawson County led 6-0 with 3:45 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bobcats fumbled the ensuing kickoff from Petyon Allen. Tiger Drew Albert pounced on the ball. However, Clear Creek's defense stiffened and did not allow Dawson County to score.

On the Bobcats next possession, another forced fumbled on a completed pass, allowed Tiger Coey Watson to scoop the ball up and ramble 46-yards for a touchdown.

The extra point was good by Frankie Muldoon and Dawson held a commanding 13-0 lead with just 42 second remaining in the first quarter.

The Tigers had several big stops led by defensive players Taylor Swofford, Watson, Easton Wright and Zach Conowal.

Both teams couldn't manage any offensive rhythm in the second quarter. Dawson held on to its 13-0 lead into halftime.

The Tigers received the ball first in the second half. Edwards' offense then went on a masterful drive.

Dawson marched 74-yards, using all but 19 seconds of the third quarter to score on a Reed to Ryan Glass touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone from 14-yards out.

Muldoon added the extra point, the Tigers held a 20-0 lead.

Clear Creek scored with 5:19 remaining in the fourth quarter on a touchdown run by running back Luke Davis. The extra point was not good.

"I can't say enough about our defense right now. Not only are they making great stops but they are scoring points also. The defense has scored three touchdowns for us this year, two by Coey Watson and one by Taylor Swofford," Edwards said.

The coach said he is also proud of his offense for putting some plays together, setting up good drives for the team.

"Offensively we were able to put together some great drives. I felt like the guys came out ready to play. We had a great week of practice and you could tell they really wanted to win this game," he said.